Padron Anniversary 1926 no.6 Vs 1964 Principe
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
Padron is one of the most renown cigar brands outside Cuba. The Padron Family has been making cigars in Miami Florida, with top quality Nicaraguan and Honduran Tobacco, since 1964, three years after Jose O. Padron, the founder of the company fled Cuba, seeking a new future in America. The Padron family had been harvesting high quality tobacco in the Pinar del Rio, from the mid 18th century, and it was this expertise Jose brought with him to Miami and led him to success.
The flagship series of Padron are without a doubt the 1926 Anniversary and the 1964 Anniversary. The 1964 was produced to celebrate the 30th anniversary from the opening of the Padron Cigar Company. Jose Padron wanted to revive the Cuban tradition from the 40’s of box pressed cigars and a blend that was different to the standards of the Padron Cigars. A few years later, Padron released the 1926, to celebrate the 80th birthday of Jose. Jose wanted to create a cigar that would be more complex and full than the 1964, and surely he did.
Both series are made with the finest Nicaraguan tobacco from Esteli. The tobacco used for the 1964 series is aged for a minimum of four years and the one used for the 1926 is aged for a minimum of five.Both series have their fans; the 1926 is known for his bold and sharp character, with overwhelming strength, while the 1964 is less powerful but more refined. Being unsure of which is my favorite serie, I decided to put them on the test on a head to head tasting review.
I decided to start this review by smoking the 1926 first, the fuller of the two. The 1926 No.6 is similar to a petit corona, measuring 120mm in length and a ring gauge of 48. The factory measurement of the ring gauge is 50, however it looked more like a 48, especially when comparing it to its 46-ring rival. The cigar has a dark coarse maduro wrapper, with a few veins and cap is rounded and well made. Very mild aromas of fruit and new leather are present on the foot of the cigar and the prelight draw is good.
The cigar lights up in a cloud of thick white smoke. Full bodied, the 1926 reveals it full bodied character from the very beginning. It starts slightly one dimensional, with a distinct flavor of pepper covering the rest of the flavors. A slight taste of ammonia is also present and hits you in the back of the throat.
The ash is white with thick texture and stays on the cigar until it reaches an inch in length. In the beginning of the second third the 1926 mellows down and reveals its complexity. The peppery taste stops dominating and more flavors can be identified. It now has a sweet and spicy profile, with flavors of wood, leather and toffee, always followed by ground pepper. The cigar burns evenly and the draw is good enough to fill your mouth with thick creamy smoke. Smoking towards the last third, the cigar becomes hotter and returns to the flavors of the first third. Pepper is dominating, followed by a hint of earth. The draw and burn are very consistent until the very end, which reveals the high construction standards of the Padron brand.
Appearance 13/15
Flavor & Body 20/25
Smoke & Burn 23/25
Overall impression 31/35
TOTAL 87/100
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The 1964 Principe is also a petit corona, measuring 114mm in length with a 46 ring gauge, slightly smaller than its rival, the 1926. The appearance of the two cigars in almost identical. The Principe has a typical Nicaraguan maduro wrapper, which is coarse and dry and has very little vein. The cap is well made and flat on the top. The cigar is tightly packed and medium aromas of freshly cut grass are present on the foot.
It lights up easily, delivering thick white smoke with good texture. It kicks off mellow, with a medium body with flavors of wood earth and leather. More balance than its rival, the 1964 can reveal its complexity from the very beginning, without being overwhelming. On the second third, the cigar looses most of its depth and balance. Earthy flavors dominate and white pepper appears, giving the cigar a long and spicy finish. On the last third, the peppery taste takes the stage and dominates the flavor of the cigar, which becomes hot and one dimensional.
The draw is very good all the way through, producing clouds of smoke until the very end, and the burn is exceptional, similar to the 1926. The ash is thick and grey in color and stays in the cigar for long, almost reaching an inch and a half in length.
Appearance 13/15
Flavor & Body 21/25
Smoke & Burn 23/25
Overall impression 31/35
TOTAL 88/100
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Overall, I believe that both of the cigars were let down by their size. The strong and full body blend of the 1926 cannot reveal its true potential on a petit corona. The strong flavors easily become overpowering, making the cigar too spicy and too hot. On the other hand, the 1964 with a milder blend can show some more complexity than its rival; only for the first third. Having smoked a few on the formats in both series, I can definitely say that the larger formats are exceptional. However, none of these petit corona sized vitolas have managed to impress me.
If i have to pick a winner from the two, that would be the 1964 Principe, not only for the fact that it scored one point higher than the 1926. Even though the construction is identical with the No.6, the 1964 gives you more flavors and balance. The strength and body are not overwhelming, which makes it more enjoyable, unlike the 1926 that tends to be too strong, too thick and too spicy. In my opinion however, a head to head review of the two series in a larger vitola, would have interesting results and very different to this one.
Stay tuned!
